Saturday, September 5, 2009
Monday, October 6, 2008
M.A.H. Creations
My new past-time. I'm having such a great time and meeting the neatest people with this business. Here are a few of our newest items. Check it out online at http://www.mahcreations.net/. We're having a super time!
Thursday, October 2, 2008
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
When Life Gets You Down
more from 1st Samuel
When Life Gets You Down
1 Sam. 25
Background: David had just prior had the chance to kill Saul but refused to dishonor the Lord. He spared Saul’s life. Samuel had passed away and David went to the Wilderness of Paran.
David heard that Nabal was shearing his sheep and sent his young men to Nabal to ask for food. Nabal arrogantly told him no. As soon as David got word of Nabal’s response he ordered an attack on Nabal.
Had Nabal searched for David trying to kill him? No. Had Nabal been the one to force David into hiding for all this time? No.
LIFE had happened to David. He was feeling the stress. Saul still wanted to kill him. He was living away from his family in the wilderness. Struggling for food. Samuel had died. Life was not good. Life was hard yet he still trusted the Lord, he still made wise decisions. He still cared for others (he took care of Nabal’s shepherds while they were together). Then he asked a favor of this prosperous Nabal…..the answer was the final straw.
When Nabal said no, every bit of wisdom left David for moment. He immediately went on the defensive and ordered an attack.
When life gets you down, you CANNOT give in!
Wait on the Lord, be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart; wait, I say, on the Lord. Psalm 27:14
Trust in the Lord and do good: so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed. Ps. 37:3
He giveth power to the faith; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength. Isaiah 40:29
Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the Lord. Psalm 31:24
Enter Abigail. The bible says that Abigail was beautiful and wise. When she heard what Nabal had done and that David was on his way she was terrified. She knew she had to act quickly. She did not have time to think about what she was going to do. She had to move.
a) Abigail was prepared – when she heard the news she packed up a plentiful supply of food to bring to David – we as wives must always be prepared (with food, with our time, with our home, with our finances). Abigail obviously was wise in her day to day living or she would not have been ready.
b) Abigail was in tune with the Lord. She didn’t have to “go to the Lord” to find out what to do. She was in tune and KNEW immediately.
c) Abigail was not intimidated. She was grounded in who she was. She knew she was about to confront David face to face. David’s reputation had spread, she knew he had favor with the Lord, she knew of his battle victories, of his character and his strength. She stood strong.
When Abigail approached David she fell on her face to the ground, not out of fear, out of respect. When we confront people we need to confront them with respect.
When life gets you down, you must be willing to listen.
When Abigail started speaking, David did not interrupt her. She spoke with a sense of urgency, and she spoke with desperation, yet she spoke with wisdom and passion and respect. David let her finish, even in his desperation, he slowed down to listen.
“Then David said to Abigail, blessed is the Lord God of Israel, who sent you this day to meet me! And blessed in your advice and blessed are you, because you have kept me this day from coming to bloodshed and from avenging myself with my own hand.” 1 Sam 25:32-33
David was IMPRESSED! These are in the days when women were not respected, they were not listened to, they were belittled. Yet, David calls Abigail’s speech, “advice”. He calls her blessed. He gives her affirms her and gives her credit for helping him see clearly.
“So David received from her hand what she had brought him, and said to her, “go up to in peace to your house. See, I have heeded your voice and respected your person.” 1 Sam 25:35
When life gets you down, you must only look up!
Abigail returned to Nabal and he was having a feast and was drunk so she did not mention anything to him. Can you imagine the thoughts in her mind! Yet she held her tongue. She waited until morning to tell Nabal. When he heard the things “his heart died within him, and he became like stone” (maybe a heart attack or stroke). Then after about 10 days, the Lord struck Nabal and he died. Then David married Abigail.
“Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” Romans 12:19
“Sow for yourselves righteousness, reap in mercy, break up your fallow ground, for it is time to seek the Lord.” Hosea 10:12
When Life Gets You Down
1 Sam. 25
Background: David had just prior had the chance to kill Saul but refused to dishonor the Lord. He spared Saul’s life. Samuel had passed away and David went to the Wilderness of Paran.
David heard that Nabal was shearing his sheep and sent his young men to Nabal to ask for food. Nabal arrogantly told him no. As soon as David got word of Nabal’s response he ordered an attack on Nabal.
Had Nabal searched for David trying to kill him? No. Had Nabal been the one to force David into hiding for all this time? No.
LIFE had happened to David. He was feeling the stress. Saul still wanted to kill him. He was living away from his family in the wilderness. Struggling for food. Samuel had died. Life was not good. Life was hard yet he still trusted the Lord, he still made wise decisions. He still cared for others (he took care of Nabal’s shepherds while they were together). Then he asked a favor of this prosperous Nabal…..the answer was the final straw.
When Nabal said no, every bit of wisdom left David for moment. He immediately went on the defensive and ordered an attack.
When life gets you down, you CANNOT give in!
Wait on the Lord, be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart; wait, I say, on the Lord. Psalm 27:14
Trust in the Lord and do good: so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed. Ps. 37:3
He giveth power to the faith; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength. Isaiah 40:29
Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the Lord. Psalm 31:24
Enter Abigail. The bible says that Abigail was beautiful and wise. When she heard what Nabal had done and that David was on his way she was terrified. She knew she had to act quickly. She did not have time to think about what she was going to do. She had to move.
a) Abigail was prepared – when she heard the news she packed up a plentiful supply of food to bring to David – we as wives must always be prepared (with food, with our time, with our home, with our finances). Abigail obviously was wise in her day to day living or she would not have been ready.
b) Abigail was in tune with the Lord. She didn’t have to “go to the Lord” to find out what to do. She was in tune and KNEW immediately.
c) Abigail was not intimidated. She was grounded in who she was. She knew she was about to confront David face to face. David’s reputation had spread, she knew he had favor with the Lord, she knew of his battle victories, of his character and his strength. She stood strong.
When Abigail approached David she fell on her face to the ground, not out of fear, out of respect. When we confront people we need to confront them with respect.
When life gets you down, you must be willing to listen.
When Abigail started speaking, David did not interrupt her. She spoke with a sense of urgency, and she spoke with desperation, yet she spoke with wisdom and passion and respect. David let her finish, even in his desperation, he slowed down to listen.
“Then David said to Abigail, blessed is the Lord God of Israel, who sent you this day to meet me! And blessed in your advice and blessed are you, because you have kept me this day from coming to bloodshed and from avenging myself with my own hand.” 1 Sam 25:32-33
David was IMPRESSED! These are in the days when women were not respected, they were not listened to, they were belittled. Yet, David calls Abigail’s speech, “advice”. He calls her blessed. He gives her affirms her and gives her credit for helping him see clearly.
“So David received from her hand what she had brought him, and said to her, “go up to in peace to your house. See, I have heeded your voice and respected your person.” 1 Sam 25:35
When life gets you down, you must only look up!
Abigail returned to Nabal and he was having a feast and was drunk so she did not mention anything to him. Can you imagine the thoughts in her mind! Yet she held her tongue. She waited until morning to tell Nabal. When he heard the things “his heart died within him, and he became like stone” (maybe a heart attack or stroke). Then after about 10 days, the Lord struck Nabal and he died. Then David married Abigail.
“Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” Romans 12:19
“Sow for yourselves righteousness, reap in mercy, break up your fallow ground, for it is time to seek the Lord.” Hosea 10:12
Difficult People and Leadership
We've have one right. I've been reading through 1st Samuel and the Lord shared this with me the other day. I wanted to pass it on...
Interacting with Difficult People
Setting: David had left the strongholds of the wildnerness after Saul went back to fight the Philistines. David went to the strongholds of En Gedi and was staying in the recesses of a cave.
After Saul’s return to find David he was told David was in the wilderness of En Gedi. Saul went after him and stopped to do business in a cave.
Surround yourself with people that will be the God’s word to you.
“the men of David said to him, ‘This is the day of which the Lord said to you, Behold I will deliver your enemy into your hand, that you may do to him as it seems good to you.” Vs.4
We need to lead with conviction. Whether you are leading in a workplace, leading your children, wherever you are leading, you lead with conviction. David arose and went and cut off the corner of Saul’s robe. Afterward David’s heart troubled him because he had cut Saul’s robe. “and he said to his men, The Lord forbid that I should do this thing to my master, the Lord’s anointed, to stretch out my hand against him, seeing he is the anointed of the Lord.” So David restrained his servants with these words, and did not allow them to rise against Saul.
David could have immediately taken his sword and killed Saul. Yet, he only cut the corner of his robe. Saul – the man who’s purpose for even being in that area is to kill David. Everyone would have understood if he had killed Saul right. We are to follow what God says, not what the world thinks would be okay.
We need to respect authority, no matter what. Saul was still the king, he may not have been a good king, or a nice king, or a wise king, but he was still God’s appointed King for that time. (God establishes kings….find verse). David was still under his authority. Just because we don’t agree with our authority figures, we are still to submit to them. Even when we get dumped on, we are still to submit. Even though you may not respect the person, you must respect the position.
Face your enemies. Sometimes we have to go to our enemies and present our case. Lay it all on the table to get to the root of the issue.
Saul got up and left the cave (blinded to anything that had just happened). What did David do? David also arose afterward, went out of the cave, and called out to Saul. Then David bowed down before him and pleaded his case. David’s words spoke to Saul’s heart and Saul concluded by confirming to David that David would be the next King and Saul begged David to spare his descendants and not destroy his family name. David swore to Saul and Saul went home. Vs. 16-22
Interacting with Difficult People
Setting: David had left the strongholds of the wildnerness after Saul went back to fight the Philistines. David went to the strongholds of En Gedi and was staying in the recesses of a cave.
After Saul’s return to find David he was told David was in the wilderness of En Gedi. Saul went after him and stopped to do business in a cave.
Surround yourself with people that will be the God’s word to you.
“the men of David said to him, ‘This is the day of which the Lord said to you, Behold I will deliver your enemy into your hand, that you may do to him as it seems good to you.” Vs.4
We need to lead with conviction. Whether you are leading in a workplace, leading your children, wherever you are leading, you lead with conviction. David arose and went and cut off the corner of Saul’s robe. Afterward David’s heart troubled him because he had cut Saul’s robe. “and he said to his men, The Lord forbid that I should do this thing to my master, the Lord’s anointed, to stretch out my hand against him, seeing he is the anointed of the Lord.” So David restrained his servants with these words, and did not allow them to rise against Saul.
David could have immediately taken his sword and killed Saul. Yet, he only cut the corner of his robe. Saul – the man who’s purpose for even being in that area is to kill David. Everyone would have understood if he had killed Saul right. We are to follow what God says, not what the world thinks would be okay.
We need to respect authority, no matter what. Saul was still the king, he may not have been a good king, or a nice king, or a wise king, but he was still God’s appointed King for that time. (God establishes kings….find verse). David was still under his authority. Just because we don’t agree with our authority figures, we are still to submit to them. Even when we get dumped on, we are still to submit. Even though you may not respect the person, you must respect the position.
Face your enemies. Sometimes we have to go to our enemies and present our case. Lay it all on the table to get to the root of the issue.
Saul got up and left the cave (blinded to anything that had just happened). What did David do? David also arose afterward, went out of the cave, and called out to Saul. Then David bowed down before him and pleaded his case. David’s words spoke to Saul’s heart and Saul concluded by confirming to David that David would be the next King and Saul begged David to spare his descendants and not destroy his family name. David swore to Saul and Saul went home. Vs. 16-22
Sunday, September 28, 2008
Exciting Week
I can't believe it's here! The launch of my new online boutique is 3 days away! What a week too.
Last weekend James and I took a little weekend getaway to Nashville to celebrate our 8th anniversary. We went to the Music Builds Tour concert and had a great time. I had forgotten how loud concerts were. We slept in the next morning and enjoyed our day. My mother in law kept all of the kids for us and they had a blast, that was the first time, so I'm glad that went well, maybe there'll be more times =).
On Thursday I took Ethan and Lauren to meet my mom and they enjoyed the weekend with Nana and Pop. Adrian hung out here with us. He's the best baby and we had a very relaxing and peaceful weekend. Our Bible Fellowship class came over Friday night, lots of fun. My ears have been rejoicing at the lack of .... well, just noice!
So I pick the kids up after church today and immediately Lauren's having a fit because she didn't like her chocolate sucker and I wouldn't let her buy another one...what happened to my peace?!?!
we are all settled back in now though. when we got home she began redeeming herself with her great responses of "sure" when asked to do something. music to my ears.
speaking of music, we enjoyed the homecoming concert at our church tonight. I am so thankful for such a great church!
Now it's way past bedtime and I've just started this blogging thing and I'm going to regret the lack of sleep in the morning...
Last weekend James and I took a little weekend getaway to Nashville to celebrate our 8th anniversary. We went to the Music Builds Tour concert and had a great time. I had forgotten how loud concerts were. We slept in the next morning and enjoyed our day. My mother in law kept all of the kids for us and they had a blast, that was the first time, so I'm glad that went well, maybe there'll be more times =).
On Thursday I took Ethan and Lauren to meet my mom and they enjoyed the weekend with Nana and Pop. Adrian hung out here with us. He's the best baby and we had a very relaxing and peaceful weekend. Our Bible Fellowship class came over Friday night, lots of fun. My ears have been rejoicing at the lack of .... well, just noice!
So I pick the kids up after church today and immediately Lauren's having a fit because she didn't like her chocolate sucker and I wouldn't let her buy another one...what happened to my peace?!?!
we are all settled back in now though. when we got home she began redeeming herself with her great responses of "sure" when asked to do something. music to my ears.
speaking of music, we enjoyed the homecoming concert at our church tonight. I am so thankful for such a great church!
Now it's way past bedtime and I've just started this blogging thing and I'm going to regret the lack of sleep in the morning...
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